Peyton Manning and Alex Smith both ended up in the right places for the 2012 season, if a few flashes and flips during Sunday’s game in Denver were any
measure.

Of course, it’s about much more than what happened in the 49ers’ 29-24 exhibition victory, since nothing in these games (other than health) matters all too much.

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It’s about those two former No. 1 overall picks, their styles, their personalities, and the entire construction of these two good franchises.

So… Even though he looks a little funky in orange, Manning is better off starting over at 36 in Denver, where he can control everything and work himself into better physical shape at his own pace.

Manning wasn’t throwing rockets Sunday—more like change-ups and cutters; but under some heat, he got the ball where it needed to be, completing 10 of his 12 attempts for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns.

And even though the 49ers chased Manning as a free agent last spring, they’re just fine sticking with Smith, who fits the Harbaugh quarterback mode so ideally.

The 49ers offense has been up and down this preseason—it’s just preseason!—but Smith was at his best throwing a perfect pass to Vernon Davis for a 44-yard touchdown on Sunday.

Smith won’t ever be as good as Peyton was in his Prime, but Smith is better for the Harbaugh 49ers than Peyton would be now.

Really, most of the time I watched the two QBs on TV today, I was thinking about what it would’ve been like if Peyton was Harbaugh’s QB now.

Easy conclusion: It would’ve been entertaining and possibly tremendous, but also probably too much of the Manic QB Ego thing all at once, with too much on the line for both men to ever back off.

It could’ve been too much testosterone—not in the Melky Cabrera way, but you know what I’m saying.

Peyton belongs in Denver, with a team that still has many things to put together and desperately needed QB credibility to move beyond the Tim Tebow experience.

Manning might do great things with the Broncos; there are great expectations there, but it also might crash. That’s all understood and accepted; that’s what you take on when you sign a QB who missed all of last season.

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The 49ers, however, are built to eliminate every crash possibility out there, and it’s a good way to build things.

Smith belongs with the 49ers, who don’t need a season stalled by QB health worries and who run on a lower-rpm than Manning is used to.

The 49ers are different: Most teams use the third exhibition game as a dress rehearsal, but Harbaugh doesn’t.

Last year the 49ers got smashed 30-7 by Houston in Candlestick in Week 3 of the preseason, and somehow did just fine when the games mattered.

So here they are now, looking a little scattered on defense (first-team D has been giving up yards), not too explosive on offense (Randy Moss, hello?), and certainly more banged up than they’d prefer.

The 49ers might have some pass-protection issues, some defensive secondary issues and they sure could use NaVorro Bowman, Aldon Smith and Brandon Jacobs back healthy by Week 1 in Green Bay.

But the quarterback is not their problem (unless maybe Indianapolis wants to give away Andrew Luck?). Just consider: What talented QB, other than Luck, could blend as seamlessly into the Harbaugh mindset as Smith has?

Maybe Manning could’ve, I don’t know. Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman have sneered at reports that the 49ers offered a large contract to Manninng. Or maybe they’re mostly sneering at the implication that Manning turned them down.

But everybody in the NFL knows that the 49ers wanted Manning and that he deeply considered signing with them–hey, the 49ers were probably his best shot at another Super Bowl.

The 49ers theoretically were also planning to keep Smith as the back-up to Manning in this scenario… though I can’t believe Smith would’ve stuck around for that.

No, the 49ers chased Manning because they thought he was an upgrade over Smith and that he could be the last piece for a championship run, and that’s understandable.

I also think they were planning that Colin Kaepernick would be ready to go in 2013 (or even in the middle of this season) if Manning hit a wall.

However Harbaugh wants to describe it, they didn’t end up with Manning, who chose Denver. The 49ers brought Smith back.

The Broncos got one of the greatest QBs of all-time. The 49ers kept the right guy, too.

Still not thrilled at the 5 FG performance. If the Niners could turn two of those into TD’s they’re scoring at will.

Russell Cross

There’s a reason I just drafted David Amers to my fantasy team with the highest pick I ever used on a kicker…

milo

9ers won’t win it all until Kappie is at QB.

http://mercurynews.com antispy3

Are you genuinely trying to package that pr pap for our content/ Are you saying there are teams Peyton manning couldn’t play for? Or Tom Brady for that matter?

With the way Manning approaches the game he automatically makes EVERYONE more accountable. Kinda like Partick Willis does on defense.

I’m a Raider fan & I can see that.

That is the biggest bunch of drivel I have ever experienced. Unbelivable you would even say that, Tim. Are you afraid the 4whiners will put you on the endangered species list?

Gmann

I would like to listen to a raider fan point of view but Palmer just threw another INT…..Smith 5 INT in a season Palmer 5 a game…. If the raiders don’t stop turning it over the def will turn on Palmer in practice and hurt him themselves.

Dr. D

Manning looked so much better than Smith it seemed they werent even playing the same sport… 😛
Kaepernick, on the other hand, looked better than expected. He made some nice throws on the move and showed that he can throw the ball not only with velocity but also with good timing and precision.
Tolzien looked smallish and fragile and it was a bit scary how he got the ball stripped despite covering it with both hands, but made some very nice throws.

FeatherRiverDan

The 9ers are only going as far as the defense takes them with Alex running the show……
And I don’t believe that the defense can be as good as last year,if the 9ers weren’t in the sorry west the defense wouldn’t make any difference in making the playoffs….

Mike

Kawakami and I must have been watching a different game. Smith threw 2 good passes. One was a TD and the other was 4yds for a first down. That was it. There were no sustained drives. Manning threw more good passes than I can count. Maybe some of you are seeing more than I see. I see a QB that fires on 3 out of the 4 cylinders. Smith doesn’t read the defenses quick enough to make his decision or if he does he doesn’t have faith in his accuracy to throw. This team won’t make the Superbowl with this sort of cautious QB. The #2 Niner backup QB played a much better game by throwing only one bad pass. The rest of his play was outstanding.

Steven P. Moore

The main reason I wouldn’t want Peyton Manning is because he is returning from a severe and IMHO dangerous injury involving cervical vertebrae. To me, the potential reward does not offset the risk, and furthermore, I would advise him, due to the risk, to retire from pro football.

You have to expect a certain amount of double talk from the 49ers organization. If Smith is their QB, naturally they are going to say that they never wanted Manning. OTOH, if they had gotten Manning they would have said they always wanted him. This is called supporting your people, a necessary part of leadership.

As for the game, Smith was unimpressive except for Target Vernon, as always. I really don’t know what Smith’s problem is, but, as a QB, Manning threw better and more accurately and had receivers who were always getting separation. Kind of embarrassing for this 49er fan.

All I can say is that if they play like this on 9/9 it will be a long season.

jack slater

Come on it’s preseason people, no game plan, vanilla offense…and as for the 9ers not winning until Kap. starts, really? I guess 13-3 isn’t a winning record. Smith gunned it out with the best of them in the Saints game…but i guess you weren’t cheering while eating crow. Look what Smith did when given a real chance, with a real coach instead of “know nothing” Nolan, and his protege “single minded” Singletery. For the first time in his career, he got the coaching he deserved and what did he do…he led his team, controlled the game, and won it when he had to. I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt just a little don’t you think.

is this article a joke?

My favorite line in the article was “Smith won’t ever be as good as Peyton was in his Prime”. Kawakami should get an award for stating the obvious. Smith for the most part sucked yesterday again and Manning was Manning. What game were you watching?? Two good passes in a half of football does nothing. The offense for much of the first half looked like the fourth quarter against the Giants in January. I love Jim Harbaugh, in Harbaugh I trust, and god bless him for propping up his players and using words like “savant-like” to describe how well Smith knows the offense. But we need Smith to be “savant-like” executing the offense. And seriously does anyone on the team or the opponents really respect him? He does not exude leadership and frankly still comes across as dumb, wide eyed and unable to read defenses. Really looking forward to the Green Bay game.

DSuave

Let’s be honest. Who’s a better QB, Smith or Carson? It’s Palmer hands down. Now he’s tossing picks this offseason cuz he’s only in his second year and needs to take these chances now while they don’t count. I don’t mind these INT’s now. But let’s be real here, Smith only threw 5 INT’s last year cuz he doesn’t have a pair of man balls and wouldn’t take the nessecary shots down field weather they were open or not.

http://ibabuzz Matt

it would be interesting to see if Smith got the time to throw that Manning had. I only watched the first half but neither the offensive or defensive line looked any good – kinda like they started last year.

Dr. Love

A broken neck Manning is 1000x better than a fully healthy Smith. AS has been in the league for 7 years. He’s done absolutely nothing in his time at SF.
Dont even tell me about last season. That was all on the defense and Akers leg that got them through to the playoffs.